New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-26
NEW vopK DAILY TRIBUNE FRIDAY, AUGUST o. 1887

;duol Qualification is heightened by the fact
that tho New-YorIS Historical Society appears
upable IN raise 100000 in order to provide
suitab,e accommodations for the best COLLECTION
Of old paintings which we have, and for other
collections now of practically no benefit I'd tio
public.
In matters pertaining to art it cannot DC salu
that Ncw.YJrk is a public-spirited city. '.s
claim to be the American art centre Is wen
founded and yet other cities have done more III
proportion to their means FOR puoiic euuc"Von
in art Tho Metropolitan Museum was Iouhucu
by private liberality, and has been ma'h'di"cu
in lnrge part by comarauv ely lew hini| i""'','
The museum has been and IS hampered by the
lack of generous endowment and the usciuI-
ness of its industrial art schools has been much
rostricrcd There IS not public academic ars
school in the city which is adequately equipped
and endowed There is pressing neci OF a gallery
NJ costs and photographs viii ch could be realized
for less money than has been paid for single
nicturc at an auction sale. A gallery or Amerl-
can paintings should he founded, or the Metro
nolitan Museum should he enabled to develop
the nucleus of such gallery which 1t already
Possesses. II our amateurs would only bchcVe
il they would find gust as much satisfaction IN
suppIvinc wants like these as in the exclusive
devotion TO the latest fashion in picture buying.
Nevertheless there IS brighter side, and it
,vouId be unfair in view of actual results, to
ignore the existence of an unselhsh interest In
art The splendid gifts TO the Metropolitan
Museum last spring are not 10 be forgotten ana
there is reason to believe that the fall VIII
bring further aid to the cause of public educa-
ton in art. The needs OF the city in this dlrec-
ton and tho justice of giving American art ialr
recognition uTon its merits have been insisted
upon by THE TRIBUNE until insistence has had an
effect. 1t is safe to say that native art occup'eu
n more prominent place before the public last year
than any year before The api recitation OF good
American art by our amateurs who are TOO oIteh
given to following foreign fashions, is one OF the
ends which THE TRIBUNE has kept steadily IN view
Another, ms our readers know. has been the I'M
Iroycment Of the means of art education In TINS
city. We expect to this end attained. Before
the end of 1887 New-YorlS may be able to show
an art school whose teachers shall be Adequately
salaried and whose pupils shall profit by re-
spectacle collections and be stimulated by the
foundation of travelling scholarships Moreover
on intelligent plan for the iudicious purchase OF
PAINTINGS from our annual exhibitions would
result in our future gallery OF American art.
These and other measures tending TO the I'M
provcmcnt and emphatic Endorsement OF our art
will surely be carried out, and rs the supporters
Of a liberal plan for the endowment OF American
nrt are likely TO he men OF experience III
business affairs it may De assumed that their
management will be conservative and wise 1t
is gratifying to feel that appeals in behalf oil
American art have not passed unnouced even IN
Wall and Broad street Offices. and that the inter-
est Of some Of our nnancicrs is due TO public
spirit and not TO selfish lust Of possession.